As rebels spread triumphantly through the streets of Tripoli and word of a siege on Moammar Gadhafi's compound is met with jubilation, one glaring question surfaces: Where is Libya's leader of more than four decades?

Some rebel officials say a key to true victory - which is already being declared by many rebels and their sympathizers - is the 69-year-old leader's capture. Observers say his future holds only three possible scenarios: capture, death or exile.

Despite regular promises to fight to the death in the early days of the rebellion, Gadhafi hasn't been seen publicly since June 12, just two weeks before the International Criminal Court issued arrests warrants for him, one of his sons and a brother-in-law, alleging "crimes against humanity." Officials at the ICC have made clear they want the Gadhafis to stand trial in The Hague, Netherlands, if possible.

At the time, Ilyumzhinov quoted Gadhafi as saying he had no intention of leaving Libya. The tune hadn't changed Tuesday when Russia's Interfax news agency caught up with Ilyumzhinov, reporting the chess federation chief had spoken with Gadhafi and his son, Mohammed, by phone and was told the Libyan leader is "alive and well in Tripoli and not going to leave Libya."

The Russian news report could not be independently confirmed, but many observers and at least one American official believe Gadhafi remains in Tripoli.

Wherever he is, professor Abubaker Saad, a former Gadhafi aide, told CNN on Tuesday that he doubted Gadhafi would hide in the warren of bunkers under his Tripoli compound.

"You have to remember that he is a military man," Saad said. "He knows they have weapons that could penetrate those bunkers. That's why I'm dismissing the idea that he's still in there."

Considering Gadhafi's public communications of late, which have demonstrated a deteriorating audio quality, Saad said the Libyan leader could be "speaking from a distance."

Given the amount of time since his last public appearance, Gadhafi's whereabouts is a matter of sheer speculation. Early suggestions were that Gadhafi might flee to a neighboring country, maybe Algeria, Tunisia or Chad.

Mahmoud Shammam, minister of information for the rebels' National Transitional Council, has said he heard reports that Gadhafi could be near the Algerian border, but "I'm not ruling out anything."

Other analysts have ventured that he may still be in Libya, either in the capital, as Ilyumzhinov claims, in his hometown of Sirte or in the nation's largely uninhabited desert region or western mountain region, areas so vast or untamed it would be difficult to find anyone there.

An American official speaking on condition of anonymity, however, said he has seen nothing to support that Gadhafi is in Sirte and said he is most likely still in the capital.

The magazine nixed Algeria and South Africa as possibilities but said Gadhafi could still seek safe haven in Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia or Zimbabwe. Outside of Africa, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia are options, though Christopher Boucek, a Saudi Arabia expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told CNN that the latter is unlikely given that the kingdom has accused Gadhafi of attempting to assassinate King Abdullah in 2004.

It seems unlikely, given that Gadhafi has said he refuses to recognize the ICC's authority, that the Libyan leader would seek refuge in any state that is party to the court - with the exception of Venezuela and certain African Union members.

Again, though, Gadhafi's whereabouts is a guessing game at this point, and NATO spokesman Col. Roland Lavoie perhaps was the most frank when asked Tuesday where Gadhafi might be.

The new game, Where in the world is Gadhafi? It's just like that old game/gameshow Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? In all seriousness though, have they not thought that he probably has a massive subterainian bunker under the populated area as a safe house for just such emergencies? He did have a lot of time and cash on hand to have it built.

Why is everyone scratching their heads on the wehereabouts of Gaghafi and his clan? The way he thinks, like a rat, he's right under the noses of all the international journalists. Just check the secret compartments of the hotel's dungeon-like passage ways. How else can his son pop in and out in front of the journalists with the rest of the city overrun with the rebels?

...how many rebels were murdered by Gadhafi's troops, and the 50,000 paid mecenary troops recruited by Israel's MOSSAD. (as NATO bombs a community, men, women, and children flee their homes...thousands of them. 10s of thousands. Upon returning, they are attacked as "rebels". Killed, maimed, beaten into submission. How many faithful muslims who would NEVER side with the invading infidels have been slaughtered? The media won't even venture a guess.

Another blow to Islam and another great victory for Capitalism and the right-wing thugs in Washington as the right-wing news media loves to brag about! Another thing they won't tell us is just how many civilians were slaughtered by these so-called "rebels" who are in NATO's pockets as that might spoil their field day!!!

This message was posted in leftie Globe & Mail (Canada) at 3:38 PM on Aug 21 and erased by GM. In the meantime a tornado hit Goderich, a place where I liked to go and a quake struck Washington. What should happen to this G&M censors? On Aug 19, in Zawiya there were mass demonstrations pro Ghaddafi.
Watch my clips on youtube â€“ user firstconservative
There is a lot of misinformation in North America main media (left or so called right). About God and â€śGod is greatâ€ť- give me a break! Rebels are using God, as so called Canadian conservatives used God to win elections. The non believers greens -sic- (aks Zandoli here) are supporting the Ghadaffi believers. Nowdays is hard to find an independent journalist to tell the truth. In Canada, we need Who is who in the media.

lizzy phelan- misinformation about Tripoli, Aug 20, 2011

â€śThis makeshift and fluctuating army, which announces a victory every other day, has in fact been collecting defeat after defeat. Every battle recreates the same scenario, with each NATO bombardment forcing the population to flee their homes. Thus, the town is quickly run over by rebel forces who announce they have gained ground. Only then does the battle begin. The Libyan army enters the town and massacres the rebels. At that point, the population safely returns to the partially destroyed villageâ€¦..[â€¦].â€ť

The Libyan diaspora now taking charge is little known in the West. Tribals, religious fringes, moderates, ex-military, even elements of Al-Qaeda. Were civilians targeted by the rebels also? That has to be determined too.
It will take a while for things to coalesce and some sort of united leadership to emerge. What shape & form future governance takes is also an unknown.
One thing is clear though Its People Power that triumphed over military might. Those countries which meddled , did so in their own economic or poltical agenda. Without factoring in the aftermath. If it was toppling Qaddhafi then it was achieved. Now what?

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